Trash can holder

ABSTRACT

A trash can holder supported by an adjustable length pole with means for anchoring the pole in the ground, identification means on a mail box and at least a pair of hooks which secure a lid and its trash can.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a retainer or holder that has an adjustable length supporting pole, identification means and a pair of hooks for securing lids and a trash cans.

[0002] The prior art discloses that a trash can can be supported by a pole and retained to the pole. This insures the contents of the cans will not be violated by pets or other animals or that the empty can and lid will not blow away in the wind. For example, in one earlier invention a trash can holder having a pole and a pivoting wire loop is used to secure a trash can. In another prior art trash can holder, a pair of semicircular hoops are used for securing the trash can.

[0003] One trash can holder invention has a pole and a strap for securing the lid and a base for securing the trash can.

[0004] Still another trash can holder has a strap for securing the trash can.

[0005] While another trash can holder has a pole and a strap for securing the lid and a hook for securing the trash can.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0006] Holders used to secure trash cans and lids are disclosed in the known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,331,310 to Silva et al. discloses a trash can holder having a pole and a pivoting wire loop is used to secure a trash can.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,527,695 to Arms discloses a trash can holder with a pair of semicircular hoops used for securing the trash can.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,747 to Engel discloses a pole having and a strap for securing the lid and a base for securing the trash can.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,494 to Voornas discloses a trash can holder with a strap for securing a trash can.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,834 to Gellos et al. discloses a trash can holder having a pole and a strap for securing the lid and a hook for securing the trash can.

[0011] While these described inventions are generally very useful for their intended purposes, such trash can holders or retainers normally require the digging or drilling of a separate hole in the ground in addition to a hole commonly need for a stand alone mail box support.

[0012] The present invention seeks to combine the two supports by using a single vertical support or pole which supports both the mail box and also the holders for the trash can and the lid in a single unit all as will be detailed in the specification that follows hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] This invention relates to a trash can holder supported by an adjustable length pole with means for anchoring the pole in the ground, identification means on a mail box and at least a pair of hooks which secure lids and the trash cans.

[0014] It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for an improved trash can and lid holder.

[0015] Another object is to provide for such a holder in which holders for the trash can and lid are supported by an adjustable length pole anchored by means in the ground.

[0016] A still additional object is to provide for a combined mail box and trash can pole in a single unit with identification data and a light on the mail box.

[0017] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to readers from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the pole anchor used to fix the pole in the ground.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mail box showing its internal contents in dotted line format with its door in a closed position.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 mail box with the door partially opened to show some of its internal contents with the remainder in dotted line format.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 mail box with the door fully opened to show some of its internal contents with the remainder in dotted line format.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention. A vertically disposed pole 1 is anchored to the ground G at its lower end. The pole is cylindrically shaped and adjustable vertically in length by using two aligned sections that telescopingly slide into each other. A retaining pin 3 on the lower pole section fits into two holes one in the lower section and another hole in the upper pole section 5 to fix the two sections together at the desired vertical distance above the ground. Several aligned holes 7 in upper section 5 are vertically disposed to permit the height adjustment of the pole 1 as shown by the arrows. Fixed to the upper section 5 are two separate hooks 9 and 11. Each hook has a free end is also adjustable in length by having two telescoping aligned sections. These hook sections may be fixed in position as with the pole 1 by a pin which fits into aligned holes. One hook, e.g. hook 9, is used to retain the lid of a trash can 13 while the other hook 11 is used to hold the handle 15 of a trash can 17, both the trash can and its lid being shown in dotted line format. For aesthetic purposes, a cross bar 18 extending through the pole 1 may be used to make the pole resemble a tying hitch formerly used to tie reins of a horse around.

[0024] Mounted on and fixed to the top of the pole 1 is the mail box housing 19. The mail box is conventional in outside design and has a front lower edge hinged door 21 on the front side facing towards the street or road. A strobe light 23 is fixed to the front top surface of the mail box and may be placed in an on or illuminated state when mail is to be pick up by the postal carrier. After during so, an internal switch is activated to shut off the light when the door is opened. Extending across the top surface of the mail box is a retaining bracket 25 having an upper opened slot extending the length of the mail box. A thin panel 27 is slidably received in the bracket. This panel has identification indicia. such as the house number shown or the name of the occupant, or both.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the anchor 29 used to fix the pole in the ground G. In this view only the bottom portion of the pole 1 is shown. The mail box and its mounted components are not shown. The anchor 29 consists of a screw-in auger end that can penetrate the earth and be fixed into the ground by turning the post about its vertical axis (see arrow). The cross bars 18 can be used for this purpose. The auger consists of spaced pole mounted auger blades that tilted in the same direction and parallel to each other. The tilt of these blades makes an angle which is off perpendicular from the vertical pole 1. When fully screwed into the earth or ground G the post is held in a firmly upright position. The pole may be removed by reversing the turning direction of the pole on its vertical axis.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mail box 19 showing its internal contents in dotted line format with its front door 21 in a closed position as in FIG. 1. For simplicity purposes, the strobe light 23 and the indicia retainer 25 with its inserted indicia panel 27 are omitted from this figure. Within the confines of the conventional exterior mail box 19 is an insert tray 31 mounted lengthwise of the mail box. Two levers 33 pivotally fixed to the back end of the tray 31 are hingedly mounted by hinges 35 at their front ends to the inside sides of the door 21. At the rear end of the tray is a raised back 37 fixed to the tray at its lower edge and extending upwardly from the generally flat surface making up the tray. When the mail box door 21 is closed, as shown, the tray, levers, hinges and raised back all are concealed with the confines of the housing constituting the mail box 19. As will be described in more detail, opening the lower hinged door 21, causes the tray to move (slide) forward to partially extend from the opened door.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 mail box with the door 21 partially opened to reveal the front end of some of its internal contents. The rear raised end 37 of the tray and the rear parts of tray and levers remain in the mail box, as shown in dotted line format. As front door 21 is opened at its lower hinged edge 39, the hingedly mounted spaced levers 33 fixed to the rear end of the tray 31 are pulled outwardly from the mail box carrying the movable tray 31 along with them. The upstanding raised rear 37 of the tray moves with the rear end of the tray towards the opened door and acts to push any mail deposited on the tray forward.

[0028]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the FIG. 3 mail box with the door 21 fully opened to show some of its internal contents with the remainder shown in dotted line format. The rear raised tray portion 37 remains within the mail box as does some of the tray and the rear portions of the levers 33. When fully opened the door 21 is generally horizontal with the ground and the two attached levers 33 are angled assume their least slop. This is the position a user would normally have the door when opening the mail box to deposit and take mail out of it. The raise rear of the tray 31 is at its most forward position and has pushed any deposited mail towards the opened front door 21 to permit its easy handling.

[0029] The material used to construct the mail box, post and the other components shown in FIG. 1, should be made of a weatherproof material such as treated metals, plastics, etc. Heavy gauge materials should be used to insure sufficient strength. Various sizes for the individual components could be used and several different ornate shapes and colors may be employed as desired. In use, after the trash hauler empties the trash, the empty can and its lid are hung on the two side hooks. This prevent them from rolling into the street and causing accidents or being blown away or otherwise lost. The upper strobe light 23 has an on/off conventional switch, not shown, to control its operation. Another switch operative with the opening of the door 21 would automatically shut off the on light when user deposited mail is removed. This tells the home owner or user the mail deliver has pick up their outgoing mail and may have deposited new mail.

[0030] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention and the method of using the same has been described in the foregoing specification with considerable details, it is to be understood that modifications may be made to the invention which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims and modified forms of the present invention done by others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains will be considered infringements of this invention when those modified forms fall within the claimed scope of this invention. 

What we claim as our invention is:
 1. A trash can holder comprising: a vertically disposed pole anchored to the ground at a lower end, said pole having two hooks extending outwardly from the pole to retain a trash can lid and a trash can to the pole; a housing mounted to the pole above said two hooks; said pole having an upper end on which the housing is mounted, said housing having identification indicia; and said pole being vertically adjustable relative to the ground when anchored to the ground to vary the distance between the mounted housing and the ground.
 2. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower end of said pole has anchor means for retaining the pole in a generally vertical direction relative to the ground.
 3. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein anchor means comprises an auger shaped lower end that is screwed into the ground when the pole is turned about its vertical axis.
 4. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein housing consists of a mail box with a front openable and closable door.
 5. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said two hooks have a free end and adjustable lengths.
 6. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 5, also including a movable tray within said mail box attached to the door by hinged levers at one end, said levers being attached to the tray at their opposite ends.
 7. The trash can holder as claimed in claim 6, wherein tray has a raised rear portion movable with the tray to push deposited mail forward when said door is opened. 